No need for the condenscending tone.
We played in 3 grand finals and an additional prelim final over 5 seasons. We were desperately unlucky in one of those grand finals to run into a 'fairytale' (and on another day, despite everything that went against us - we could well have won that game), and we were the best team for the remainder of the season in the other one, but got it very very wrong on Grand Final day.
Our list is transformed substantially from that which played in that 2016 decider now. You can't stay up forever in a day in this game, and you have to rejuvenate. I'm happy to criticise Longmire where there is genuine reason to do so - I'm not sure he his game plan still stacks up in the way the game is going, but I do think he is taking genuine steps to try and change that.
We also currently have a horrendous injury list. Do tell, what team out there could have basically all of their ruckmen (both seasoned and rookie) out, plus their 2 best tall forwards, plus one of their best younger tall forward outs, and still not be struggling to kick goals going forward?
We would need a fully fit list and we could be somewhere round the edge of the 8. We don't have that and unsuprisingly are struggling big time.
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BT is an embarrasment. An absolute dinosaur. Who gives two @@@@s about losing jumper numbers and all the crap he goes on about. He has no idea barely what is going on out there. Absolute waste of space.
"You get the feeling that like Monty Python's Black Knight, the Swans would regard amputation as merely a flesh wound."
Can't judge us until we have a relatively fit list whenever that is. Maybe not even any time this year. You have been gunning for Horse for ages. He has earned his extension so we need patience given our predicament.
A couple of things in defence of McLean's athletic abilities. Firstly, I suspect, like at the same time last season, that he's still working up to full fitness. That is, last season he was injured early, and then looked a bit of a lumberer when he started in the NEAFL. After a while, he improved his mobility enough to earn a promotion and then looked surprisingly good at the higher level. This year, I think he spent the preseason in a moonboot, so I suspect that he's still got a bit of improvement in him. Also, I wondered if like some other big units, he's deceptively quick; so I checked the tracker data. While he didn't feature in the fastest player section, he was up there in the distance covered stats. The much maligned Clarke topped our list, with 12.2km traveled. McLean was second with 11.4km. I don't think it was a fluke, because in the North game, he was third in that stat, behind Rampe and Lloyd. So, I think he has more toe, than is immediately apparent.
Nothing is worse then Dwayne Russell so please don’t whinge about BT!!
We have them where we want them, everything is going according to plan!
"You get the feeling that like Monty Python's Black Knight, the Swans would regard amputation as merely a flesh wound."
Overall, I found plenty to be encouraged by in that game. Losing JPK and Parker having a shocker allowed the kids to step up.Rowbottom showed plenty of leadership and seems to be one of the most reliable in traffic. Heyward played well off half back, Stephens, Stoddart and Warner all showed they are not out of place in the senior side and will only improve. Blakey finally started to show some form in the last quarter.Clarke showed why he should keep getting games because of his ability to run and run and apply pressure.Some consecutive games would improve his disposal. Mills was excellent along with Rampe.
Overall though, there was some fighting spirit on display and if it wasn't for a missed kick at goal and the biggest howler of an umpiring decision for the year, we win.
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We have them where we want them, everything is going according to plan!
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